The storm made landfall in the morning after picking up strength in the open waters overnight, but it was downgraded to a tropical depression as it moved northwest over land, the National Hurricane Center said.

Its winds dropped to near 35 mph (56 kph) in the afternoon and the depression was expected to weaken in the next 24 hours.

"All coastal tropical storm warnings are discontinued," the hurricane center said in its latest update.

Nevertheless, Edouard was expected to produce rainfall of between three and five inches (about 7.5 to 13 centimeters) in some areas of southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas. Isolated rainfall totals could approach 10 inches (25 centimeters) along Edouard's path.

Isolated tornadoes are also possible over parts of eastern and central Texas, the NHC said.

More than 5.4 million coastal inhabitants of both states could be affected by Edouard's winds and rain-induced flooding, especially those in the low-lying, poorer sections of Galveston, Texas, said the US Census Bureau.

Oil industry operators in the area -- a crucial hub of the US petroleum industry -- said they took safety precautions as the storm neared.

ExxonMobil said its exploration and production facilities, as well as its Baytown refinery and chemical plants, were all operating normally.

"Currently, there is no impact to production, and no personnel have been evacuated," the company said on its website.

Oil prices closed below 120 dollars on Tuesday, partly because the storm was not destructive.

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